MPC X/MIDI Patchbay Questions by a crazy person...

My home studio is growing, the electric bill is increasing, I got plans and I'm pretty sure I'm gonna need more MIDI output ports than the 4 on my MPC X.

Has anyone here used a MIDI patchbay with their MPC X while in standalone mode?

And if so, how did you make it work?

Is it a painful experience?

What brand and model of MIDI patchbay are you using with your MPC X?


This what my setup will be like by March 2020:


Samplers:

Akai MPC X
AKAI S900
Casio RZ-1
Casio FZ-1
Ensoniq ASR-X-Pro
Ensoniq ASR-10
Isla Instruments SP-2400


Synthesizers:

Arturia MiniBrute
Behringer Neutron
Behringer Model D
Behringer Pro-1
Behringer K2
Casio CZ-5000
Korg MS-20 Mini
Roland System-1
Yamaha TX81z
Yamaha TX7

Drum Machines:

Behringer RD-8
Roland TR-8

Yes, I that's a lot of hardware but I'm a crazy person who happen to have a purpose and a plan for all of this gear...

It MIGHT work if its a generic class compliant interface, but if it needs any sort of drivers, your SOL.

Below are two MIDI Patchbays. Also what console are you using to connect all the audio?


MOTU MIDI Express XT USB



iConnectivity mio10 MIDI

Fre$hBreath wrote:My home studio is growing, the electric bill is increasing, I got plans and I'm pretty sure I'm gonna need more MIDI output ports than the 4 on my MPC X.

Has anyone here used a MIDI patchbay with their MPC X while in standalone mode?

And if so, how did you make it work?

Is it a painful experience?

What brand and model of MIDI patchbay are you using with your MPC X?


This what my setup will be like by March 2020:


Samplers:

Akai MPC X
AKAI S900
Casio RZ-1
Casio FZ-1
Ensoniq ASR-X-Pro
Ensoniq ASR-10
Isla Instruments SP-2400


Synthesizers:

Arturia MiniBrute
Behringer Neutron
Behringer Model D
Behringer Pro-1
Behringer K2
Casio CZ-5000
Korg MS-20 Mini
Roland System-1
Yamaha TX81z
Yamaha TX7

Drum Machines:

Behringer RD-8
Roland TR-8

Yes, I that's a lot of hardware but I'm a crazy person who happen to have a purpose and a plan for all of this gear...

CharlesRandolph wrote:Below are two MIDI Patchbays. Also what console are you using to connect all the audio?


MOTU MIDI Express XT USB

iConnectivity mio10 MIDI

Fre$hBreath wrote:My home studio is growing, the electric bill is increasing, I got plans and I'm pretty sure I'm gonna need more MIDI output ports than the 4 on my MPC X.

Has anyone here used a MIDI patchbay with their MPC X while in standalone mode?

And if so, how did you make it work?

Is it a painful experience?

What brand and model of MIDI patchbay are you using with your MPC X?


This what my setup will be like by March 2020:


Samplers:

Akai MPC X
AKAI S900
Casio RZ-1
Casio FZ-1
Ensoniq ASR-X-Pro
Ensoniq ASR-10
Isla Instruments SP-2400


Synthesizers:

Arturia MiniBrute
Behringer Neutron
Behringer Model D
Behringer Pro-1
Behringer K2
Casio CZ-5000
Korg MS-20 Mini
Roland System-1
Yamaha TX81z
Yamaha TX7

Drum Machines:

Behringer RD-8
Roland TR-8

Yes, I that's a lot of hardware but I'm a crazy person who happen to have a purpose and a plan for all of this gear...

I own a Tascam 2600 MK2 it's a 24x8x2

Fre$hBreath wrote:I own a Tascam 2600 MK2 it's a 24x8x2

With that list of gear, you'll need at least 48 tracks. That's if you're utilizing your gear to it's fullest potential and don't want to spend all your time patching.

MPC X (10 Out)
SP2400 (8 Out)
Ensoniq ASR-X-Pro (8 output card.)
S900 (10 Outs)

CharlesRandolph wrote:

Fre$hBreath wrote:I own a Tascam 2600 MK2 it's a 24x8x2

With that list of gear, you'll need at least 48 tracks. That's if you're utilizing your gear to it's fullest potential and don't want to spend all your time patching.

MPC X (10 Out)
SP2400 (8 Out)
Ensoniq ASR-X-Pro (8 output card.)
S900 (10 Outs)

The M2600 MK2 has 56 inputs, and I have a Universal Audio Apollo system as well multitrack open real tape machines and a nice collection of outboard gear. I just want to expand my MIDI outputs beyond the 4 the MPC X provides me while in standalone mode...

Fre$hBreath wrote:The M2600 MK2 has 56 inputs, and I have a Universal Audio Apollo system as well multitrack open real tape machines and a nice collection of outboard gear. I just want to expand my MIDI outputs beyond the 4 the MPC X provides me while in standalone mode...

I thought the Tascam M2600 MKII came in 16, 24, 32 input configurations. Can the Line in and Tape In be used at the same time? Also how do you get 56 direct channels out?

viewtopic.php?f=45&t=190117

Just sayin'.... not sure about the X, but assuming it's basically running the same software, you might run into an issue here. Using the MPC software on PC, I have no chance using all ports of my MIDI patchbay (M8UXL) by ESI. So I'd assume it will be even harder in standalone..

Fre$hBreath wrote:My home studio is growing, the electric bill is increasing, I got plans and I'm pretty sure I'm gonna need more MIDI output ports than the 4 on my MPC X.

Has anyone here used a MIDI patchbay with their MPC X while in standalone mode?

And if so, how did you make it work?

Is it a painful experience?

What brand and model of MIDI patchbay are you using with your MPC X?...

I have the Live, and only 3 hard synths being triggered at the moment, but I can vouch for the MOTU MIDI Express XT. Works great standalone. You'll need a computer initially for a small bit of routing in their software, Clockworks, but a great coputerless patchbay after that.

If you go MOTU, be sure to get the XT. The 128 does NOT work without a computer.

CharlesRandolph wrote:

Fre$hBreath wrote:The M2600 MK2 has 56 inputs, and I have a Universal Audio Apollo system as well multitrack open real tape machines and a nice collection of outboard gear. I just want to expand my MIDI outputs beyond the 4 the MPC X provides me while in standalone mode...

I thought the Tascam M2600 MKII came in 16, 24, 32 input configurations. Can the Line in and Tape In be used at the same time? Also how do you get 56 direct channels out?

The M2600MK2 allows you to split the channel lanes in each bucket by activating the flip button. When you do this, the parametric EQ configuration also splits, so you go from full band parametric EQ to 3 band parametric for the lower split and 2 bands for the upper split. That was a genius concept for Tascam to come up with, but although quite musical the EQ could have been a little bit better. It's warm and clean, but not as broad as Mackie or Behringer mixers in its class...

Fre$hBreath wrote:
The M2600MK2 allows you to split the channel lanes in each bucket by activating the flip button. When you do this, the parametric EQ configuration also splits, so you go from full band parametric EQ to 3 band parametric for the lower split and 2 bands for the upper split. That was a genius concept for Tascam to come up with, but although quite musical the EQ could have been a little bit better. It's warm and clean, but not as broad as Mackie or Behringer mixers in its class...

Nice, so without spliting the channel you have 32 in and 32 outs. If you split the channels you get 56 in and 32 outs?

After considering your recommendations and speaking with the sales guy at Sweetwater I decided to go with the MIDI Express XT based on your suggestions. Thanks guys!

Fre$hBreath wrote:After considering your recommendations and speaking with the sales guy at Sweetwater I decided to go with the MIDI Express XT based on your suggestions. Thanks guys!

Good buy!

CharlesRandolph wrote:

Fre$hBreath wrote:After considering your recommendations and speaking with the sales guy at Sweetwater I decided to go with the MIDI Express XT based on your suggestions. Thanks guys!

Good buy!

Agreed!

Makes my standalone work much more efficient & enjoyable. I start many projects with just the Live & 3 synths (bass, lead & "keys"), 4-piece band basically. By the time I reach for my DAW, the song is written & arranged.

Just picked up a MX-8 MIDI patchbay from Reverb a few months ago. Currently on a TDY with the military, so I can’t wait to implement it into my little studio. Looking to connect the following:

S2400 sampler
D4 drum module
DM5 drum module
JUNO-DS synth keyboard

My MPC’s going to be the center of my studio... Planning to connect all these devices via the MX-8 MIDI patchbay and have my MPC as the master.

Wondering how this MX-8 MIDI patchbay will work with the MPC’s multi-MIDI capabilities:

Would I just be able to connect the MPC to the MIDI patchbay and select the patchbay from the input ports in the settings?

Guess I’ll find out if nobody has the answer...